Cottonwood Campground (Nd)
Theodore Roosevelt National Park — riverside, hiking
Location: Medora, ND, ND
Price: From $10 per night
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (511 reviews)
Season: Year-round
For people visiting the South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park, Cottonwood Campground is a great place to stay. Located five miles (8 km) from the entrance to the South Unit of the park, the campground is open year-round. To make a reservation for the group site please visit this the Cottonwood Group Site (ND ) page.
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): strong signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: T-Mobile. Verizon 4G: 100%. AT&T 4G: 100%. T-Mobile 4G: 100%.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Drinking Water, Dump Station, Electric Hookups
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/cottonwood-campground-nd to be notified when sites open up.
Located 5 miles from Theodore Roosevelt National Park's South Unit entrance with access to approximately 70 miles of trails. Campers praise the clean bathrooms, picnic tables, and grills, plus frequent wildlife viewing including bison walking through the campground.
Wildlife alert: Black-tailed Prairie Dog, American Badger, American Bison, Pronghorn, Coyote, Lazuli Bunting, Black-billed Magpie, Plains Hognose Snake
Insider tips for Cottonwood Campground (Nd): Book early — federal campground with high demand Verify water/facility status before arrival as amenities may not be operational in shoulder season This is a semi-primitive campground; bring self-contained RV or tent camping setup as most sites have no hookups
Skip Cottonwood Campground (Nd) if: You require full RV hookups — no hookups available at most sites. You need guaranteed facility access in late spring/early season — bathrooms and water may not be operational.
Best time to visit Cottonwood Campground (Nd): Jun-Sep — Verified camper report noted bathrooms locked in late May; full season operations expected summer months.
Nearby campgrounds: Cottonwood Group Site (Nd) (Medora, ND), Roundup Group Horse Camp (MEDORA, ND), Buffalo Gap Campground (Nd) (Dickinson, ND), Juniper Campground Group Site (Nd) (WATFORD CITY, ND).
Cell Phone Coverage at Cottonwood Campground (Nd)
Cell signal at Cottonwood Campground (Nd) (Medora, ND): strong overall signal based on FCC broadband data. Best carrier: T-Mobile.
- Verizon 4G LTE: 100% coverage
- AT&T 4G LTE: 100% coverage
- T-Mobile 4G LTE: 100% coverage
Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.
For people visiting the South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park, Cottonwood Campground is a great place to stay. Located five miles (8 km) from the entrance to the South Unit of the park, the campground is open year-round. To make a reservation for the group site please visit this the Cottonwood Group Site (ND ) page.
Verified facts
RIDB / Recreation.gov official databaseAmenities
RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verifiedStraight talk
CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reportsKnown issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.
Insider tips & when to go
CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entryBook early
federal campground with high demand
Verify water/facility status before arrival as amenities may not be operational in shoulder season
This is a semi-primitive campground; bring self-contained RV or tent camping setup as most sites have no hookups
Verified camper report noted bathrooms locked in late May; full season operations expected summer months
Things to do nearby
RIDB /activities /recareas + intelConditions today
LiveCell signal
FCC BDC · quarterly datasetFCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal. Best carrier: T-Mobile.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Getting there →
The South Unit entrance is in Medora, ND. Medora is accessible via Interstate 94 Exits 24 and 27 in North Dakota. Please note exit 27 is a westbound exit only. Medora is 133 miles (214 km) west of Bismarck, ND and 27 miles (43 km) east of the Montana state line.
Campground entrance
Google Maps APICommunity
#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)Pro tips
- Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Theodore Roosevelt National Park fills fast in peak season.
- Check current road conditions at Theodore Roosevelt National Park before arrival — seasonal closures common.
Frequently asked questions
RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakableHow much does Cottonwood Campground (Nd) cost per night?+
What season is Cottonwood Campground (Nd) open?+
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What is the maximum RV length at Cottonwood Campground (Nd)?+
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●Data sources on this page
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